COCHRANE— Cultivating a socially-connected community, Family and Community Support Services' Community Helpers program is fostering a rich mental health support system in Cochrane.
The Community Helpers program has been in place for more than five years, said Cochrane Family and Community Support Services executive director Kim Krawec, and the hope is the program will continue to grow in the community.
“This program isn’t about having bad mental health at all, it’s how you encourage positive mental health in yourself and in others,” Krawec said.
Community Helpers is funded by Alberta Health Services and runs across the province in unique and different communities. Each Community Helpers program reflects the community it is based in, so no two programs are the same, said community liaison and programmer Mae Karoeis.
In Cochrane, Community Helpers is run through Family and Community Support Services. It is designed to prevent suicide among youth and young adults between the ages of 12 and 30 through the fostering of a universal prevention strategy that promotes positive mental health.
The program works to actively promote mental wellbeing by training natural helpers in the community who can offer support to young people who may be struggling to maintain positive mental health. The helpers do not replace trained mental health professionals and instead provide a kind ear and work to understand when and how to help people access professional supports.
“It’s building resiliency,” Krawec said. “It’s a massive ripple effect in the community.”
Community Helpers is typically hosted by other groups, businesses and organizations in the community. The goal is to see it spread throughout Cochrane by accessing different networks outside Cochrane Family and Community Support Services.
Karoeis said MacKay's Ice Cream and Rocky View Schools, including École Manachaban Middle School, Mitford School, the Rocky View Schools Leadership Academy and Bow Valley High School, and other organizations have hosted Community Helpers for staff.
“It’s an existing group that sees the value and then they promote it to their network or their staff or their students,” Karoeis said.
Peers can nominate each other for the program or Cochranites can sign up for the program on their own.
Krawec said by spreading Community Helpers out in Cochrane is meeting an important need in the community, because people typically talk to those close to them before seeking out professional services when experiencing negative mental health.
“They’re talking to their parents, or their friends or their co-workers about what they're going through,” Karoeis said. “If you’re that person someone's talking to and you don’t have formal training you’re just relying on your natural skills.”
The Community Helpers program features nine core modules, along with bonus modules for interested participants. The program is catered to the participating group and is flexible in meeting their needs, Karoeis said. She added it is typically done in one or two days for in-person classes or over 10-hours online.
Community Helpers are not only trained to help others, but also act as role models in the community.
A key part of the program is teaching participants how to care for themselves and maintain their mental well-being, so they can continue helping the community while role modelling positive behaviours.
“If you’re seeking help and you’re open to talking about mental help things then that makes it more OK for others so that helps with the stigma,” Karoeis said. “You are facilitating their own resourcefulness—You are building the person's resourcefulness. So not only are you not relying on external services, you’re building that individual's capacity to problem solves their own issue.”
Karoeis said because of the stigma around mental health it can be difficult asking for help when someone experiences negative mental health.
“Rather than expecting the person struggling to make that super difficult step of reach out, Community Helpers are trained how and when to check-in,” Karoeis said. “If they notice somebody might be acting differently, they now have the skills and the confidence and approach them.”
Community Helpers gives those who participate the ability and confidence to check-in and create a safe space to chat about positive mental health.
These spaces have become increasingly important during COVID-19 as maintaining positive mental health is becoming significantly more challenging for some community members.
“People are not talking to each other, they feel more disconnected and isolated," Karoeis said. “When they get that opportunity to connect with somebody that’s their chance to vent or to share what they are going through— They can connect on a really human level with another human being about what’s going on.”
Krawec added social isolation during the pandemic has taken a toll on people’s mental health and there is a need for people to share their stories and experiences— People are lonely, and the mental health of community members is suffering.
“This is a suicide prevention program which I think is so critical right now with mental health,” Krawec said.
Karoeis added it is a good feeling knowing you can support a friend who comes to you for help. She noted this can be challenging when the majority of social connections are virtual or superficial which further affects people’s well-being.
“We need that one-to-one authentic connection where it feels safe to open up,” Karoeis said. “That only happens under certain conditions and the training that you get helps foster that safe environment to share.”
Krawec said people are talking more about mental health during COVID-19 and it is becoming recognized as a global issue.
“The conversations are happening, but I still don’t know if people necessarily know where to go for support or if that stigma is gone from receiving support,” Krawec said. “This offers that support in a safer space than walking in the door of a professional building.”
Businesses and community associations interested in participating in the Community Helpers program can sign up to host the program by contacting Cochrane Family and Community Support Services. Email [email protected] for more information.
Key mental health resources
Community and Social Service 211
AHS Mental Health support 1-844-943-1500
Distress Centre (24 hour crisis line) 403-266-HELP
Connecteen 403-264-8336
Connecteen Text Line 587-333-2724
Woods Homes 1-800-563-6106
Kids Help Phone text support, text CONNECT to 686868
AHS Addiction and Mental Health Help Line 1-866-332-2322
Child Abuse Reports 403-297-2995
Family Violence Info Line 310-1818
Sexual Assault 1-977-237-5888
